Japanese supplier suggests Red Cross donations

DUNDEE — Diamond Electric Manufacturing Corp., a Japanese-owned automotive supplier based with corporate offices in Dundee and a manufacturing plant in West Virginia, is recommending that the American Red Cross be used by those interested in making contributions for disaster relief in the earthquake-tsunami stricken area of Japan.

"We have had dozens of inquiries from our employees, many friends of our company and from others in both Michigan and West Virginia who want to help and are looking for a way to do it," Gene Bialy, Diamond Electric vice president of administration. "We have found that both the American Red Cross and the Japan Red Cross are working together to coordinate relief efforts, and we feel the Red Cross is the best vehicle to make sure donations reach the people who need it most."

Mr. Bialy said donations should be made directly to any American Red Cross in either Michigan or West Virginia. People also can donate cash directly to the Diamond Electric office in Dundee or Eleanor, W. Va. and the company will ensure it gets to the Red Cross.

"The tragedy in Japan is tremendous, and we want to do everything possible to help," Mr. Bialy said. He explained that in the future the company may collect bottled water, canned foods and other items like blankets, pillows and bath items like towels and wash cloths.

"We will follow the advice of the Red Cross with regards to what we will collect," Mr. Bialy said, explaining that the company will issue a notice when it might begin those collections. "This most likely will be a long-term effort to aid the thousands and thousands of who lost everything."

None of Diamond Electric's facilities in Japan were impacted directly by the earthquake or the tsunami. But some company suppliers in the northern part of Japan that were impacted and the firm's ignition coil factory in Tottori, Japan was temporarily closed because of supplier issues.

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